Wise reader Emily commented yesterday that perhaps what is going on with my health is an under-treated thyroid.
Boy were YOU ever right, Emily!
Well, at least that’s what it looks like. One of the most common complaints thyroid sufferers have is that their doctors do not listen to them and, as Emily said, patients end up having to demand or force their doctors to help them into feeling better. (Emily, I’m going to continue to use you as my example, sorry!)
Like Emily, I have a TSH that falls within the normal range (though it’s 2.78, which is high within the range), and so my GP, in her words, has said I’m “fine.” And I don’t completely blame her. I don’t. I don’t have her medical training, and she’s within her right to her opinion as it’s – you’ll forgive the phrase - and industry standard that the majority of doctors adhere to. Fortunately for me, I have this blog, and one of my readers (Hi Erin! Owe you an e-mail!) lives in Chicago and introduced me to a specialist who is one of those rare doctors who believes the industry standard is crap and we do a disservice to women by telling them to take their little pill and shut the heck up.
So my doctor ran that slew of tests two weeks ago. I don’t have an insulin resistance. I am not gluten intolerant – though he said that I could be one of the rare cases who exhibit problems without a clinical diagnosis since I feel so crappy after eating anything with gluten in it. My liver is fine. I don’t have any candida problems, though he’s glad I’m continuing to take probiotics since they help with my digestive issues, too. He’s not entirely convinced that I don’t have PCOS, but it seems unlikely now.
What I do have are a ton of thyroid antibodies swirling around. Like four times the amount I should have. I’ve never been tested for them (probably because I don’t have any obvious goiters), so there was no reason to think I had Hashimoto’s Disease. But a crap ton of antibodies suggests otherwise, so I’m off for a thyroid scan this week.
It is worth pointing out that since the beginning of July till now, I’ve managed to drop my total cholesterol by 40 points. It’s still high, but it’s something and I’m taking it.
So it seems I have an under-treated thryoid, plain and simple. The high cholesterol, the weight, the exhaustion – I just woke up after sleeping for 10 hours last night. TEN hours. Granted I did two miles worth of sprints yesterday morning before work but still. - and, he thinks, our inability to get pregnant after three months, are all related to the thyroid. I’ve read stories where some women registered in the normal range, but things didn’t start functioning normally until their TSH went much, much lower. My doctor seems to think the same goes for me, which is great. Like I said, having a doctor take me seriously is a wonderful feeling.
You wouldn’t be willing to pass on that doctor info, would you? I am also trying to get answers to the issues that have been plaguing me for years. I’ve just recently finagled a referral to a gastroenterologist for suspected celiac disease – and that may be the answer….or it may not. It’s frustrating to battle with exhaustion and pain and weight that just won’t budge and yet be faced with the skepticism of medical professionals.
Thyroid is not something I’d ever thought of before, although the profile fits. But isn’t it kind of ridiculous that we have to google this stuff in order to have something to present to our doctors? Shouldn’t they be like, I don’t know, hey, you’re having these persistent issues, let’s check that out? So frustrating.
I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis too. I feel better when my tsh is at or below 1. I agree that most doctors figure if you’re in the good range it’s a done deal – but if mine is up in the higher part of the range I feel like crap. Like falling asleep at my desk at 3:00 kind of crap.
It’s taken me a long time to figure out the right range for me – I was diagnosed 13 years ago. Thankfully I have a naturopath who listens to me and works with me. (I also personally do better on armour than on synthroid.)
I hope you see improvement and feel better soon!
Just wait until you see what life is like with a TSH closer to 1.0!! (This is esoecuakky critical if you are trying to conceive!)
It must be such a relief to feel like someone was willing to explore your problems a little bit deeper and figure out what was really going on. Cheers to your a future with a happier thyroid! Hope you start seeing some really positive changes in your health.
Hey Erin -
I never was tested for antibodies either until I saw Dr. B. It’s one of the FIRST things they should have done with my family history – my Mom had serious autoimmune thyroid disease – hyperthyroid/Graves – but still! Hashi’s really explains a lot about why your thyroid hasn’t responded to the thyroid medication as easily as someone who has uncomplicated thyroid disease like me. That said, I had fertility issues including a miscarriage before I got my thyroid under control. The saddest part, for me, was seeing the blood test results from the time of my miscarriage, where my gyno was looking for progesterone levels (which were circled in red ink and were too low). Right above that number on the chart was my TSH level, which was 5.1, which fell within the old “clinical range” for normal but is generally regarded as way too high now. I don’t feel good unless I’m below 1.0. I’m glad Dr. B. is taking good care of you!
Have you considered acupuncture to aid in fertility?
Well, I’m not that worried about it right now. My doctor has it on his radar, but it’s not something that is worrying me at this point. It’s only been three months, which seems a little early to get worried about my lady business.
i don’t have health insurance now, so i don’t think i could afford it, but i’d love the name of that doc. i think with the manic-depression meds and all the other stuff, that i sound just like you. falling in normal (i guess … 2.5 and above sometimes), but not feeling like that and knowing something else is up, i’d love to meet someone who is open to talking about this stuff with me. you have my email, or i’ll email you when i can afford to see someone.
also … i work with some awesome acupuncturists who specialize in fertility and women’s health and childbirth and pregnancy and all of that. so, if you ever want to go there, let me know … they have had great results.